Google Meet vs Zoom for user interviews in coastal Kenya

I've been running user interviews for the past year, mostly with smallholder farmers and local business owners here in Mombasa. I started on Zoom because it's popular, but the audio lag and dropped calls during storms were killing my flow. Switched to Google Meet a few months back and it's been more reliable on our network, especially in heavy rain. The catch is Meet's recording and transcription features are buried, which frustrates me when I need to share clips with my team quickly. Anyone else juggling these tools for research? What's your go-to when you're interviewing people on spotty internet? I'm curious if something balances stability and ease of use for researchers who aren't very techy.

Replies

Faith ChebetOct 6

For spotty areas I lean on WhatsApp voice calls as a backup for interviews, it works even on 2G. For recording I use Otter.ai with Meet, it transcribes automatically and you can share clips easily. Keeps things simple with no extra fuss.

Samuel KiptooOct 7

That WhatsApp backup idea is solid. I’ve had farmers in Kitale just send voice notes when the call drops, and I piece the interview together later. Saves the stress of watching a recording fail mid-upload.

AmaniOct 9

Thanks for the real-world context. Spotty coastal connections make tool choice so much more than a feature comparison. Since you're already on Meet, pairing it with Otter.ai (as mentioned) or Fathom gives you searchable transcripts and one-click clip sharing without changing your interview flow. If you ever need a backup that records locally on each device to avoid upload failures, Riverside is worth a quick look.

Grace WambuiOct 10

That WhatsApp voice call tip is gold. I've had students in rural areas tell me WhatsApp works even when their Zoom won't load, so it's good to hear it holds up for interviews too.

Baraka MushiOct 12

The WhatsApp backup trick is definitely the move, and those points on Otter and Fathom are good. For what it's worth, I'd add that if you're not techy, the simplest thing is often just using your phone's built-in voice recorder as the backup, no extra app to learn. Most phones here handle audio fine for a 30 minute chat, and you can always transcribe it later from the file itself.

Kevin MwangiOct 12

The WhatsApp backup is a lifesaver, for sure. If you're on Meet and need to share clips fast, maybe try recording locally on your phone as a fallback, lets you pull the audio off even if the upload flakes out. Also, for less techy researchers, just having a cheap voice recorder app running on a second phone can be simpler than any fancy tool. Works great up here in Nakuru when the rain hits.